OBJECTIVE: To observe the intervention effect of damage control orthopaedic(DCO) strategy on fat embolism syndrome(FES) associated with long shaft fracture of lower limbs. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 163 patients with FES associated with lower limb long shaft fractures admitted from January 2015 to May 2021. They were divided into two groups based on the time point of implementing DCO strategy in January 2018. Total of 92 patients were admitted from January 2015 to December 2017 as the control group, and other 71 patients were admitted from January 2018 to May 2021 as the intervention group. The hospital mortality, arterial oxygen saturation (SaO₂), arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO₂) and oxygenation index (OI), hemoglobin (Hb), platelet count(PLT), Harris score of hip joint, HSS score of knee joint, AOFAS score of ankle joint, clinical efficacy and complications were observed and compared between two groups. RESULTS: Total of 163 patients were followed up for 12 to 18 months with an average of (16.91±1.22) months. The in-hospital mortality rate in the intervention group was 2.82% (2/71), and that in the control group was 16.30% (15/92), the difference between two groups was statistically significant(χ²=6.455, P<0.05). After the intervention, SaO₂, PaO₂ and OI in two groups were higher than those before the intervention(P<0.05), and after the intervention, SaO₂, PaO₂ and OI in two groups were statistically significant(P<0.05). Hb and PLT in two groups after intervention were higher than those before intervention (P<0.001), and there was statistically significant difference in Hb and PLT between two groups after intervention (P<0.05). The Harris score of hip joint, HSS score of knee joint and AOFAS score of ankle joint in both groups after 3 months of treatment were better than those before treatment (P<0.05). The total clinical effective rate of the intervention group was higher than that of the control group(χ²=4.194, P<0.05). The total incidence of complications in the intervention group was lower than that in the control group(χ²=4.747, P<0.05). CONCLUSION DCO strategy is helpful to reduce the in-hospital mortality of patients with FES associated with long shaft fracture of lower extremities, eliminate FES symptoms and stabilize vital signs, gain time advantage for phase Ⅱ definitive surgery, and has significant clinical intervention effect, which is worth popularizing.
Humans ; Orthopedics ; Retrospective Studies ; Fractures, Bone ; Treatment Outcome ; Lower Extremity ; Embolism, Fat/therapy*

In the practice of forensic pathology, fat embolism is one of the common causes of death, which can be divided into two categories: traumatic and non-traumatic. Non-traumatic fat embolism refers to the blockage of small blood vessels by fat droplets in the circulatory blood flow caused by non-traumatic factors such as underlying diseases, stress, poisoning and lipid metabolism disorders. At present, it is believed that the production of non-traumatic fat embolism is related to the disturbance of lipid metabolism, C-reactive protein-related cascade reaction, the agglutination of chylomicron and very low-density lipoprotein. The forensic identification of the cause of death of non-traumatic fat embolism is mainly based on the case, systematic autopsy, HE staining and fat staining, but it is often missed or misdiagnosed by forensic examiners because of its unknown risk factors, hidden onset, the difficulty of HE staining observation and irregular implementation of fat staining. In view of the lack of attention to non-traumatic fat embolism in forensic identification, this paper reviews the concepts, pathophysiological mechanism, research progress, existing problems and countermeasures of non-traumatic fat embolism, providing reference for forensic scholars.
Autopsy ; Embolism, Fat/pathology* ; Forensic Medicine ; Forensic Pathology ; Humans ; Pulmonary Embolism/pathology*

PURPOSE: Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is systemic manifestation of fat emboli in the circulation seen mostly after long bone fractures. FES is considered a lethal complication of trauma. There are various case reports and series describing FES. Here we describe the clinical characteristics, management in ICU and outcome of these patients in level I trauma center in a span of 6 months. METHODS: In this prospective study, analysis of all the patients with FES admitted in our polytrauma intensive care unit (ICU) of level I trauma center over a period of 6 months (from August 2017 to January 2018) was done. Demographic data, clinical features, management in ICU and outcome were analyzed. RESULTS: We admitted 10 cases of FES. The mean age of patients was 31.2 years. The mean duration from time of injury to onset of symptoms was 56 h. All patients presented with hypoxemia and petechiae but central nervous system symptoms were present in 70% of patients. The mean duration of mechanical ventilation was 11.7 days and the mean length of ICU stay was 14.7 days. There was excellent recovery among patients with no neurological deficit. CONCLUSION FES is considered a lethal complication of trauma but timely management can result in favorable outcome. FES can occur even after fixation of the fracture. Hypoxia is the most common and earliest feature of FES followed by CNS manifestations. Any patient presenting with such symptoms should raise the suspicion of FES and mandate early ICU referral.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Central Nervous System Diseases ; etiology ; Early Diagnosis ; Embolism, Fat ; diagnosis ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Fractures, Bone ; complications ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; etiology ; Intensive Care Units ; statistics & numerical data ; Length of Stay ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Patient Outcome Assessment ; Time Factors ; Trauma Centers ; statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The most common risk factor for fecal incontinence (FI) is obstetric injury. FI affects 1.4%–18% of adults. Most patients are unaware when they are young, when symptoms appear suddenly and worsen with aging. Autologous fat graft is widely used in cosmetic surgical field and may substitute for injectable bulky agents in treating FI. Authors have done fat graft for past several years. This article reports the effectiveness of the fat graft in treating FI and discusses satisfaction with the procedure. METHODS: Fat was harvested from both lateral thighs using 10-mL Luer-loc syringe. Pure fat was extracted from harvests and mixed with fat, oil, and tumescent through refinement. Fats were injected into upper border of posterior ano-rectal ring, submucosa of anal canal and intersphincteric space. Thirty-five patients with FI were treated with this method from July 2016 to February 2017 in Busan Hangun Hospital. They were 13 male (mean age, 60.8 years) and 22 female patients (mean age, 63.3 years). The Wexner score was checked before procedure. We evaluated outcome in outpatients by asking the patients. For 19 patients we checked the Wexner score after procedure. RESULTS: Symptom improved in 29 (82.9%), and not improved in 6 (17.1%). In 2 of 6 patients, they felt better than before procedure, although not satisfied. No improvement in 4. Mean Wexner score was 9.7 before procedure. There were no serious complications such as inflammation or fat embolism. CONCLUSION: Autologous fat graft can be an effective alternative treatment for FI. It is safe and easy to perform, and cost effective.
Adult ; Aging ; Anal Canal ; Busan ; Embolism, Fat ; Fats ; Fecal Incontinence ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Methods ; Outpatients ; Risk Factors ; Syringes ; Thigh ; Transplants

A 23-year-old Indian man presented with shortness of breath and new-onset confusion along with a rash on his chest on Postoperative Day 2, following internal fixation of his femur fracture. Although computed tomography pulmonary angiography was negative for filling defects in the pulmonary vasculature, it showed mosaic attenuation changes with some interlobular septal thickening. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed patchy signal abnormalities, predominantly in the grey-white matter junction region with extensive susceptibility artefacts, consistent with petechial haemorrhages. The laboratory work-up showed thrombocytopenia and anaemia. A diagnosis of fat embolism syndrome was established, based on the clinical presentation combined with laboratory and imaging findings. The clinical and imaging features of fat embolism syndrome are discussed.
Brain ; pathology ; Dyspnea ; Embolism, Fat ; diagnostic imaging ; Femoral Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; India ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Thrombocytopenia ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

At an intensive care unit, four neonates died consecutively within 80 minutes. Citrobacter freundii was isolated from blood samples of the 4 patients. It was also cultured from the leftover SMOFlipid that had been infused intravenously into the patients. In this in vitro study, we evaluated the bacterial growth kinetics and change in size of fat globules in SMOFlipid contaminated with C. freundii. Following the growth of bacteria, pH of SMOFlipid decreased to < 6, and the number of fat globules larger than 5 µm increased. Pulmonary fat embolism is proposed as a possible cause of the sudden deaths as well as fulminant sepsis.
Bacteria ; Citrobacter freundii* ; Citrobacter* ; Death, Sudden* ; Embolism, Fat ; Fat Emulsions, Intravenous ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; In Vitro Techniques ; Infant, Newborn* ; Infusions, Intravenous* ; Intensive Care Units ; Kinetics ; Sepsis

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a rare manifestation of trauma or long bone fracture. A relationship between fat embolism and DAH has been reported. A 73-year-old female developed sudden cardiac arrest during a femur fracture operation. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was repeated for about 130 minutes. During CPR, blood was detected in the endotracheal tube. Diffuse patch ground glass opacity appearance and increased pulmonary artery with bulging of interventricular septum toward the left ventricle were detected on a chest computed tomography scan. After full supportive care including ventilator therapy, the patient's condition became stabilized and she was extubated after 7 days. We report a case of DAH in the course of a suspected fat embolism during femur fracture operation. Although DAH is a rare manifestation of fat embolism, early diagnosis and aggressive treatment likely can decrease morbidity and mortality.
Aged ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Early Diagnosis ; Embolism ; Embolism, Fat ; Female ; Femur ; Fractures, Bone ; Glass ; Heart Ventricles ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mortality ; Pulmonary Artery ; Thorax ; Ventilators, Mechanical

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the surgical outcomes of biologic plating using locking compression plate-distal femur (LCP-DF) in patients with subtrochanteric fracture of the femur. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2010 and December 2013, 28 consecutive patients with subtrochanteric fractures of the femur, treated with biologic fixation using LCP-DF, were enrolled. Preoperative values, including patient age, sex, body mass index, fracture type, type of lung injury, and surgical timing from injury to surgery, were retrospectively evaluated. Radiologic assessments included time to union, coronal alignment, rotational alignment, and complications such as implant breakage and screw breakage. Adverse events, including postoperative fat embolism and adult respiratory distress syndrome, infection during the follow-up period, and walking ability at the last follow-up visit, were assessed. RESULTS: Union was achieved in 27 patients (96.4%) after a mean duration of 5.4 months (range, 3-14 months). No patients developed fat embolism or adult respiratory distress syndrome during the hospitalization period of this study. CONCLUSION: Biologic fixation using locking compression plates may represent a safe surgical option which can be utilized in patients with subtrochanteric fracture regardless of injury severity, surgical timing, fracture type, and presence of lung injury.
Body Mass Index ; Embolism, Fat ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip Fractures ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Lung Injury ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; Walking

Pulmonary embolism is the obstruction of the pulmonary artery or its branches, commonly by thrombus or fat. We report an unusual case of double pathology - both pulmonary thromboembolism and fat embolism syndrome in a patient with bilateral femur and bilateral tibia fractures. This highlights the importance of a high index of suspicion of these conditions while managing patients with multiple long bone fractures. Morbidity and mortality can be significantly reduced with prompt and appropriate prevention strategies.
Thromboembolism ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Embolism, Fat

Brain Damage, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Dexamethasone ; therapeutic use ; Embolism, Fat ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Embolism ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged